Azay-le-Rideau castle. This marvellously graceful and white château (called Azay-le-Brûlé, in honour of a massacre, until the 18C) was built from 1518 to 1527, by Gilles Berthelot. It is dominated by turrets that still evoke Medieval times. This architectural gem was partly built over the river Indre and is reflected in the water that surrounds it.
The L-shaped château was once a fortified manor and is now an elegant edifice. Its exterior façade is richly decorated and shows the period's refinement. The dormer windows have a clearly Renaissance decoration, with elements such as pilasters, interlacing patterns and other details inspired from Antiquity. The interior displays remarkably well-preserved decoration and furniture: 16C and 17C tapestries from Brussels or Antwerp, canopy chairs. The main staircase stands in the middle of the main dwelling. It was one of the first straight interior staircases, so has a straight ramp, and is adorned with a coffered ceiling.
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